HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-30-2000 - 7ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 30, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. 7
SUBJECT: Other Solid Waste Issues
DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
8/24/00 Staff Memorandum
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management
Director, 968-2885
Blair Pollock,. Solid Waste Programs
.:Manager, 968-2788
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive informational reports to the BOCC based on requests made at the
August 15 meeting regarding: electronics recycling; use of small-scale C&D grinding equipment;
buy recycled policies; and the closed Materials Recycling Facility in Alamance County.
BACKGROUND: During discussion at the August 15, 2000 BOCC meeting, the Board
requested information on the topics noted above. Staff has prepared the attached
memorandum in an effort to provide baseline information for further discussion.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No direct financial impact.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review the attached staff
memo and develop further questions and follow-up actions as it deems necessary.
MEMORANDUM.
To: Orange County Board of Commissioners
John Link, County Manager
From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management Director
Subject: Other Solid Waste Issues
Date: August 24, 2000
The items in this memorandum relate to information requested by the BOCC at the public
hearing on Solid Waste Plan update at the regular August 15, 2000 business meeting.
1. Electronics recycling: There are ongoing national efforts on electronics recycling including:
• a comprehensive report issued last year by the US Environmental Protection Agency,
• regional efforts led by Triangle J Council of Governments as a follow-up to the "Future
Search" meeting on solid waste issues held in February 2000, and
• upcoming workshops on electronics recycling scheduled for North Carolina solid waste
managers October 24 in Charlotte and October 26 at IBM in RTP.
Orange County Solid Waste Management staff is very interested in further work in this area.
We will need to explore the various collection options such as single day events, permanent
sites, partnerships with retailers, collaboration with other jurisdictions including school
systems, and various marketing options for materials that could be collected. We anticipate
bringing the BOCC a complete list of options for local or regional program opportunities,
including a recommendation, later this year.
2. On-site construction waste grinder: In June 2000, Solid Waste staff attended a
demonstration of a piece of equipment designed to grind C&D wastes at the point of
generation.... The grinder costs around $85,000 and is not yet widely available. Grinders are
custom-built and appear most appropriately used in small-scale, light residential construction
projects.
On-site grinding can be performed for two primary outcomes. One is to grind material and
have it remain on-site; the other is to haul it away for burial or recycling elsewhere.
Some of the key potential policy issues regarding the grinder use for material that will remain
on-site are:
• how to encourage source separation so that only the organic/inert materials are ground
for on-site reuse, and not environmentally harmful/not legally permitted materials, i.e.
treated wood, plastics, etc.
• how to address the issue of the decomposition of organic materials resulting in settling or
voids
Some of the key potential policy issues regarding the grinder use for material transport are:
• how to encourage source separation so that the marketable ground materials are kept free
of contaminant material
•~ how to ensure that the reduced volume of construction debris is not illegally buried on-
site
• how to regulate the application, if necessary, of ground drywall to be
horticulturally/agriculturally useful
From staff observations, the people marketing the grinder have not fully explored the
implications of the use of an on-site grinder that they perceive to be primarily for volume
reduction rather than actual material reuse. The costs and logistics of creating asource-
separation. C&D system in order to make effective use of the ground up materials onsite did
not seem to be a significant aspect of the marketing and demonstration effort. Before staff
could recommend this approach to C&D recycling to the BOCC, staff believes it would have
to further explore the regulatory issues and technical and economic effectiveness of the
equipment in diverting material from our landfill. Staff does believe this type of equipment
could potentially provide a valuable contribution to the management of C&D wastes.
3. Buy recycled policies update..
a. Orange County Purchasing Department staff is developing a formal policy on
buying recycled .materials. The County currently purchases many materials
including paper, picnic tables and parking stops made with recycled content. The
policy in draft is being reviewed and modified by staff of a number of County
departments who would contribute to the County's "buy recycled" policy. We
expect a draft to be ready for review by the BOCC in the near future.
b. Solid Waste Management staff has .requested copies of the formal buy-recycled
policies that we understand both the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the
Orange County schools have.
c. The County has received a grant from the State Division of Pollution Prevention
and Environmental Assistance fora "Buy-Recycled" workshop aimed primarily at
local public agencies. That will take place later this year when a more formal
agenda can be prepared and the meeting scheduled and publicized. Prior to
finalizing the workshop agenda, staff will present it and planned expenditures
under this grant to the BOCC for review.
d. A copy of Chapel Hill's Buy-Recycled policy and the 1993 Governor's Executive
Order on purchase of products with recycled content are provided as reference
documents that may suggest some points that should be incorporated into the
County's "buy recycled" policy.
4. Alamance County Materials Recovery Facility
The Board inquired about the materials recovery facility in Alamance County that closed,
reportedly due to lack of materials for processing. Staff researched this matter by calling the
facility operator and local government personnel whose programs delivered materials to that
facility.
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BFI, Inc. built and operated a 30,000 square foot MRF in Burlington that opened in July, 1992.
The facility was constructed to handle the recyclable solid waste generated at 12 public drop off
centers (on 7-year contract with Burlington, Graham, Mebane, and Haw River). BFI held the
collection contract. Curbside collection programs were operated under contract to BFI in 4
municipalities (on 5-year contract with Burlington, Graham, Mebane, and Haw River).
BFI had ashort-term goal of 1,200 tons/month and along-term of 1,800 tons/month. Peak
operation in 1996 was 1,600 tons/month. In 1996 material prices plunged. In 1997 the contract
with the municipalities was not renewed. Also, in 1997, contamination problems led to the
closing of some drop-off centers.
Based on our conversations we have determined that the primary reasons for the closing of the
facility in August, 1999 were:
• Market fluctuations' effect on operating budget
Based on staffs' experience, great care must be taken in formulating revenue estimates when
volatile commodities are involved.
• Corporate Restructuring
Major solid waste companies such as BFI were going through a period of consolidation and
vertical integration, which resulted in a generally reduced commitment to recycling and the
closing of several facilities nationwide in the past 3-4 years.
• Higher than expected costs
Significant reductions in quantities of materials caused processing costs to increase.
Additionally, having to process highly contaminated materials increases costs. We understand
the drop-off sites were not staffed, which led to contamination problems.. Staff believes
contamination problems can also be improved by a concentrated effort of public education and
outreach.
• Loss of high quality, source separated materials from the municipal curbside collection
programs
When materials collection is not structurally or legally connected to the processing function,
there is an opportunity for failure. Successful examples of exceptions to this notion do exist,
however, in certain metropolitan areas where quantities of materials are high, processing costs
reduced due to reasonable fees based on economies of scale, and either preferential collection
contracts or dominance of a single recyclables collector exist.
Without a steady and predictable supply of materials, a MRF cannot economically function. It
appears that Alamance County could have signed contracts with the collection contractor that
required the transport of materials to a specific facility.
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1l RCSOLLRZOM R~G~RpiliG Pt7'AClV1=~ AND VSE Q!' IZDiS !VIDE MIiZ7! RECYCLED
I~iATERlALS IWD REL~ITED xAT''t'EAS ,t~i•il•13iR-?)
wtiERFxS, sanitary landfill spate is at a pseeiva, and tutur•
landfill sites will be incseasingly dittievlt to find; and
afNERF,3-S, each of tt+a •atetial that enters the vast• strea' can be
recycled, reused of incorposated ire ttie a~anutaeture e!' n•r
products; and
i~HERF.~-5, the Council stipparts oasts reduction, incrsassd recycling
and she manutactyre and tise of products aade rith recycled
materials; and.
Y~{ERFAS, the ToVn of Chapel Ni12 Ras already established the
practice of purchasing items made vitA reayeled paper, plastic and
other materials; and
irTHERF..~-S, the Council desires td participate in tre national effort
to promote secyClinq thsough purchase and use of preduets Bads rich
recycled materials;
N4W, THEREFORE, sE 1T RESOLVED by the Covntil o! the Town of CRapei
Hill that tRe Council adopts the tollovinq pol3eies ragardi~q
purchase of item= manvtaGtured with recycled saterials;
i. The Tovn vili seek to byy and use products needed !or ?ov~rt
services vhfcA are made xith recycled aat•risls it fitness,
quality, and Arica and other relevant considerations are
sybstantialiy eq+~ivalent to as better than those o! non-
reeyeled product:; and the Tova will continue to toilov State
law regarding purchasing procedures.
3. The Town viii seek tv coordinate pttrahaainq aetivitiss with
other governments to promote purchasing based on tt~! above
policies.
3. Sha Manager Yill revier the Town's purchasing needs and
speciifcation* to identify teasit-le nev opposturiities to
specify and purahaae items with recycled matetlai in accord
with the above policies.
4. The council autherizas tht Manages to establish ada~inistrative
polioies and procedura,~ regarding pusohase of items mdda vitA
recycled material. 5c~eh pol~-cies shall be consistent with this
reSOlNti011.
This the 13th day of tiovember, il91.
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Sac. IY: V~hen the p:sce for re+c3-~led products is withie l0~fi oftha lowest respoaaive
virgin material bid a~ is of QusJitr ~dequ+tte for.the pu~~os~e intended, the Mzmicipality
will make au award for the raycled products.
Sec. V: All mur~icipel departme~ and o#~ites shall reMSe pareha:ing spxifioations to
reflect tlx 2Q percent and 30 petti+rat post-codsua~et coaseat rrquirezneots for print
and writing paper.
Ser. VI: This order shall aka e$ect iaunedtately.
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.IatV~ES 8. HUNT, JR.
GOYEANQR
EAECUTTYE QTtb,lrtR N4. 8
STATE GOVEI3;IVN~NT RECYCT.IlVG, REDUCT'IDN GF SQLII) WASTE, AKD
F'VRCHASE gyp' ~RC>DUC7'S WITH RECYC~,ED CL3NTENT
WAF~AS, 83l of the 9.5 million tans of solid waste generated anngalIy in North
Carolina is disposed of in landfills; and
l~REgS, the State of North Carolina ltas takes significant measures to promote
alternatives to landfilling and incineration by establishing solid waste reduction goals of 2~ ~ by
1993 and 40~ ~y the year 20t)l; and
AREAS, source reduction and recycling are key elements in a comprehensive
approach to reducing North Carolina's dependency oa landfills and incineration for the disposal
of solid waste; and
WHERE+4S, recaverul materials are not truly recycled until they are brought back into
productive vse in manufacturing and eonsumptiorr; and.
WHF.R~AS, the purchase of recycled produca is necessary to ensure markntg for
recyclable materials, ar~d state government constitutes a large• consumer of products that are
available wlth recycled material content; and
W~KEAS, the purchase of recycled products helps conserve natural resources and
reduce energy consumption;
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NO~V, THEREFt]RE, by the authority vested in me as Governor by the Co~titudon and law's
of North Carolina, it is ORDERED:
io F'[JRPOS~ ~' ~~~
That all state a~encicsshall maumizc their efforts to: ~l) reduce the amount of solid waste they
getleraffi; (2) recycle matZrial recoverable from solid waste originating at their facilities; and
(3} purchase arid~ use products made wholly or in part fram recycled materials.
ion ItESPONSIS~ OAF STATE AGFI~ICIES
(a} ~onlic~ ill
For the purposes of this Executive Order, "state'agencies" shall include state government
departments and the University of North Carolina.
(by Respansy 'bi1_ i ties
' (I) Each state agency shall be responsible for implementing programs to reduce and
recycle solid waste generated by its operations and to pu~hase and use products
having recycled content. Such pmgrama ahaU 6e cansistrnt with, and at least as
comprehensive as described itti, this Order, Each agency shaIl designate one nr
more individuals to coordinate and overse8 its recycl~g, wash reduction, and
recycled products purchasing pragiams, and to servt as a liaison with the Office
of Waste Reduction of the Department of Environment, health, .and ?xah~al
Resources.
(2} The Office of Waste Reduction shall provide technical assistance, education and
training to state agencies on these matters, and shall serve $s a central point of
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- information grid coordination fer all state agency recycling and waste reduction
efforts.
(3} 'I`he Divisions ttf Auxiliary Services and Facility 1Kanagemec-t of the Department
of Administration shall facilitate state agencies` recycling efforts as part of their
regular fisnepons, which include but are, not limited to overseeing contracts for
or providing waste hauling Aad housekeeping services, and operating the Slate
Surplus Prapesry Agency.
(4) As provided in this Order, the Division of lurchase at-t3 Contract of the
Department of Admi:tistrition shalt aggressively Gxplare apportutiities for
purchasing products having recycled content fn place of those not having r+ecyalea
canter~t, and shall actively promote the purchase of recycled products by state
agencies and others eligible to purchase items from start contracts.
Sec i SCXIRCE RED~IC'I'IaN 4~ V'+IASTE
(a) general r~ujFemenrs
To encourage reduction of waste at its source, all state agencies shall review their
operations to determine where solid wash can be reduced at its sources of gety~atian.
Spedfic measures state agencies shall employ to reduce waste at the source include but
are not limited to those identified in this Stction.
(b) Prin~'ng snd p,~ ocoovine
State agencies shall avoid unnecessary printing or photocopying of printed materials, end
shall require two-sided t~pying on all documents when feasible and practicable. All new
photocopy machines purchased shall have duplexing capabilities if their capacity is rated
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at sixty thousand (dl],004) copies or more per month.
{c) Durabilitk, S~e.S.~ty. »ackaaina_ and recYClability
State agencies shall discourage the use of disposable praduots where reusable products
aze available and ecanomirally viable for use. Furthest, state agencies shall assess their
waste generation with regard to purchasing decisions and make every attempt to purchase
items only when ncerlcd and in amounts that arc not excessive. Vi~hezu purchases are
necessary, state agencies shall, to the extent feasible and practicable, acquire d}uable
items ar items that are readily recyclable when tiiscartied, and items having minimal
Pa~B~g•
S ~ 4. CQY,Y,~C'x"YON' Q1Ei RECYCY.d~T.~ TFUYaY fifi
(a) Collection p~~tms for recvelab]e materials
{1) As set forth in t;.S.130A-3t'>~.1~, all state agencies sha11 ensure that employees
have access tsx containers for recycllt~g (at a minimum)'aluminum cans, high.
~-' grade office paper, and coxrvgated cardboard. All stela emptoxees art= required
,~.-:~twwa~'~ to separate identified recyclable materials generated in the course of agency
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operaUQns and place them iri the appropriate recycling containers. The pmvis3ons
of this section shall not apply in thetas situations where the agency head melees a
written determina$on that their implernentarion is not feasible.
(2) State agencies that routinely host the general public, suoh as highway real areas,
state parks and recreation areas, employment security affiees, state historic sites,
etc., shall implement programs for the cq[leCdon and recycling of appropriate
'materials discarded by the public ai all such locations (e.g., aluminum, glass, and
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plastic beverage cantainers~ when feasible and practicable. State agencies shall
work closely with the appropriate local government agencies when developing and
implementing these recycling programs.
(b) 1/du~ation of aeencv emplovees
It ~shali be the duty of each state agency to educate its employees about agency
recyclinglwaste reduction goals and procedures and to ensure participation. 'X'he Office
of Waste Reduction shall Assist agencies to develop and implement educational programs.
F,ach agency shall establish a natwnrk of assistant coordiaatozs'ka work with tfie agency
coordinator in carrying cut this responsibility. The assistant coordinators shall
dissctninate information about recycling and waste reduction policies and pragraras and
monitor pariiaipadan in programs and report arty problems. suggestions, or other
feedback tc the agency's designatcxl coordinator.
enti n .PURCHASE AND LJSE Qp' pRC}I}UCT5 HAV~TC R~CYCL~U CC)11iT'F.I+T'T
Ta help develop rriarkets for recyclable materials to support Local government recyoiit-g efforts
mandated by G.S. i~OA-3Q9.04P, and to set an example for Iocal government and the private
sector, all state agencies shall purchase and use products made wholly or in part with recycled
materials whenever feasible curd practicable.
(a) rahas'
~I) In cooperation with the Office of -Waste Ruiuctiatt, the Division of
Purchase asyd Contract sha]1 make every effort to identify products made
from recycled matccials that meet appropriate standards for use by state
agenoits.
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(2) Product speciiications shall be written to encourage vendors to offer products
having recycled content. When products having recycled content are offered that
aze comparable in quality, availability, and Brice tQ products not having recycled
content, term contacts shall ~ only the recycled products. '
(3) Term contracts shall be written in a format that prominently identlfles products
having recycled content, and these products shall tie listed in coajunctioa with any
comparable products that do not have recyc~l content, to eaabls agenraes tQ
ready identif~r the availability of these products. The Division of Purchase and
Cortttact shall prepare a listing of eIl recycled products available on sate
contracts on a acmi-annual basis, and make it available to all potential purchasers
to increase awareness of opportttrlitles to purchase recycXcd products.
(b) Recycled ,Paper
(1) Stave agencies are directed to purchase and uSC recycled paper for all letterhead
atatioaery, reportr, memora:tda, and other documents when feasible and
practicable. All new photocopiers purchased sha11 have the ability to use
xerographic paper having at least 5p9b recycled content_
(2) State agencies shall attempt to meet the following go21s for the percent of the total
dollar value of au paper and paper products purchased having recycled content:
Fiscal Year 1993-94: at Icast 2S ~;
Piscal Year 1494-95: at least 359b;
fiscal 'Year 1995-96: at least 456;
Fiscal Year 149b-97: at least 55%;
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Fiscal Year 1997-98: at least 65 ~ ,
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d.
'i'he Division of Purchase and Contract and the Office of Waste Reduodon shall develop
guidelines far minimum ccatent standards for recycled products purchased by state
agencies.
(d) ~partmgntai Review
Stattr agencies that have ~ delegated purchasing authority shall review their existing
apecificatians to ensure that they do not carttain restrictive language or other bamars to
purchasing recycled products, uNess such specifications are necessary tsa protect public
health, safety, or weIfaze.
Section d. F.EPORTING
(a) Stake- A~*,ency Annual Ram
On at least ari anreual~ basis, beginning October 1, 1994, each atato agestcy shall report
to the Office of Waste Reduction far the gre`rious fiscal year the following infortnatian,
at a minimum: activities nr pragrama implemented to reduce the amount of waste
generated by the agency; amounts and types of recyclccl prcducts,ptcr~chascd; and amounts
and types of materials collected for recycling by the agency.
(b) Annual Process Repnrt to ~3~ or
The Offce of Waste Reduction, in canjuriction with tiia Department Qf Administration,
shall provide guidance to agencies for preparing their annual reports. The Office shall.
compile tha agency reports and provide an annual report to the Governor an progress by
state gavrrnmettt agencies in source reduction of waste,.,rtcycled products procurement,
and coAectton of recyclable materials,.
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(c) Tra~~ns Recycl Products. rocaremen.t
The Division of Purchase and Contract shaft review its procurement ttaclang system and
determine any changes needed to facilitate traeldr~p of recycled products purchased by
state agcttcies and others,
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~ect3on 7. EF~CT OF QTHFR EXECU'I'1~E QF.AERS
Ex,eautive C)rdar 172 is hereby rescinded. All other Executive Orders or portions of Executive
Orders inconsistent herewith arc hereby rescinded.
Section .EFFECTIVE IyATE
This. Executive Qrdrr shall be effective immediately.
Done in the Capital Ciry of Raleigh. Nonh Carolina this' ~ ay of April, 1993.
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J es $. Hunt, Jr.
AZTEST:~
Rufu , Edmisten
• Sear of State
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